Process for the electrolytic deposit of metals.



A. RODBGK. PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSIT 0F METALS. APPLIOATION FILED 11111116, 1011.

Patented Sept. 19,1911

(5 Jim] W Inventor flrmmflodecir, B] t r l to move meclnmically, or to rotate, and

if the surface of the object to be coated is OFFICE.

. ARMIN RGIDECK, 0F MILAN, ITALY.

PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSIT OF METALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed Jane 6, 1911. Serial No. 631,536.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that' I, Aunts ROUECK, engineer, asubject ot the Emperor ol. Austrial lungai v', residing at Milan. in the King'- dom of Italy, whose post-otlice address is to Via Principe Umberto, have invented a cert-ain new andfusettul llroeess tor the Electrolytic )et)'0sit" t' Metals, o'ti which the t'ollow ing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a process especially i adapted tor the separation. ot metals electrolytically by aid of mechanism. For this purpose it is old in the art to cause anodescovered with non-conducting porous n'taterials and acting as electrolytic supports moreover in a transverse or longitudinal di- 'rection with regard to the cathodes. or with regard to the motion given to the articles on which the metals are to be electroaleposited. In this old process, however, the anode l' ust always be of that ft'orm which corresponds to the profile of the object to be t .ect ro-plat ed (for instance in the electro-uepositiott'o't metal sheets it is usual to bring it into the form of cylindrical rollers and so forth), and this obviously considerably increases the cost of the process in the case ot electrolytic deposition of certain metals on a large industrial scale. To this drawback there is further added the objection that in consequence of the large consumption of metal at the anode, as is necessary in industrial working, the original dimensions of the anode cannot be longn'iaintained; and consequently the coating or deposit will a t'ter a relatively short time fail to closely adhere, which gives rise to an. additional inconvenience. Finally,

not entirely smooth and it is desired to obtain a good uniform deposit, the coating or deposit must have a certain thickness, and this increases the r sistance daringthe transfer as well as the current tension requiret l.

In the process which forms the object of the presentinvention, on the other hand the above described drawbacks are avoided by inserting between an ordinary tixed auode and a movable cathode a mechal'iicall y moved transferring); mechanism of suitable material, which is either naturally conducting or is made conducting at the operative surface. This mechanism usually receive a porous tron-conducting coating of material which serves as a carrier of the electrolyte, and adapts itself in its outer form to the shape of the object to be coated. The electric current passes in this new process from the anode through the porous material to the transferring mechanism, and from this latter to the cathode; where naturally the quantity of metal depositin; upon the traus't'errin; mechanism from the anode will at any given moment exactly equal the quantity prmreedlltjJf t'rom this mechanism to the cathode, ho-

cause the current strength is throughout the same. It is theretore not uecessar to make the anode itselt' ol' that shape which corresponds to the profile at the article to be coated. but hat torm ot' anode which can be obtained most cheaply in counucrce.as for instance, bars, rods. sheets or even scraps can be used by provtdlug them with suitable current eonnta'tions and pressing them against the trausterrurc llltClltllllSlll. It 01' course is true. by reason of the tart that the electric current must pass twice through the coating of material which really constitutes secondary electrodes, and also ads as a carrier ot' the clw-t-rolvte. that the resistance to transt'er is increased. lint on the other hand in consequence of the wide range ot choice ot the shape and material of the transferring mechanism, one can so select said mechanism that quite a thin coating. 55

even on a somewhat; rough surface ot the object to be coated, will etl'eet a perfect deposit; and therefore the process can be easily carried on with the ordinary current tension usually en'iployed in the clectro-deposit- 9() ing operations.

Referring to the accompanyinp drawings forming; a part ot this Sl )(t"lli('tltlt)ll2 Figure 1 is a dia raimnatic view illustratinp,- one form ot mechanism for carry- 5 run over rollers and which take on one side metal from the stationary anode a and give up the same quantity" of metal simultm'ieonsly at the other side to the cathode is, which latter member may receive a corresponding progressive motion. operation, in case of need, there is supplied to the Coating of the transfer mechanism 1) when looking down 100 During the by carrier rollers or other suitable devices,

not shown, the electrolytic fluid in order to maintain constant the concentration and degree of moisture of the coating.

In order to coat tubes inside and out with formed as a cylindrical roller 10'', to the periphery whereof are attached the tubes 1" extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller and constituting cathodes. These tubes may turn on their own axis during the rotation of the roller by reason of the exist ing friction, or by means not shown, While the anodes 0/ consisting of the precipitating metals or metallic alloys are pressed at suitable points between the tubes against the coating of the roller to. At the same time the deposit can beobtained-on the insides of the tubes 1' by means of one or more cords, wires or the like 10 covered with a suitable carrier for the electrolyte, which cords are either themselves conducting or are made conducting, and are passed through suitably formed anodes a and caused to move through the interior of the tubes 1". By this means the metal which is removed by the transferring mechanism from the anodes is carried to the inside of the tubes which form the cathodes.

What I-claim is:

1. The method of electrolytically forming articles of a desired shape, which consists in electrolytically and successively depositing a given quantity of metal upon one portion of a moving cathode, and forming the desired article by simultaneously and successively depositing the same said quantities of metal from another portion of said cathode, substantially as described.

2. The method of electrolytically forming articles, which consists in successively depositing given quantities of metal on one portion of a moving cathode; forming the desired article by simultaneously and successively plating out the same said quantities of metal from another portion of said cathode; and in suitably moving said article relatively to said cathode during the plating operation, substantially as described.

3. The method of electrolytically forming hollow articles, which consists in successively depositing given quantities of metal on one portion of a moving cathode; forming the desired article by simultaneously and successively plating out the same said quantities of metal from another portion of said cathode; in suitably moving said article relatively to said cathode during the plating operation; and in simultaneously depositing -metal ,on the interior of said article, subsignature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARMIN RODEOK.

Witnesses:

CHARLES C. Bnor, P. on FRANISSIN. 

